RNC denies offering chairmanship to Steele

[sabra]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061116-115116-8520r.htm

RNC denies offering chairmanship to Steele

The Republican National Committee this week said it never offered Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele "a specific role" at the committee after his unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Many conservatives were surprised this week when, after reports that some leading Republicans favored Mr. Steele to succeed Ken Mehlman as chairman of the RNC, the White House leaked word to news agencies that President Bush would back Florida Sen. Mel Martinez for the top post at the committee.

The Washington Times reported Nov. 10 that Mr. Mehlman would not seek a second two-year term as RNC chairman in January and that Mr. Steele had been offered a Cabinet or top RNC post in recognition of his hard-fought Senate campaign that ended in defeat on Nov. 7.

The Times on Wednesday asked the White House, the RNC and Mr. Steele whether, as the paper also had reported, anyone from the administration or RNC had told Mr. Steele or any of his aides that he was not a "team player" because he had talked to The Times about the jobs in question and that those jobs could be withheld in retaliation.

[tabasco]

1. Liar Steele probably started the rumor.

Steele lied out of his ass and got caught running a crooked campaign. Seems like the logical choice for a republican.

Good work by Maryland to show Steele and his idiot boss the door.

[warrens]

2. Nah...they just decided that their black offensive

Is just a pipe dream. Facing reality at last. They know they have a slightly better chance with Hispanics. Martinez is hispanic. Voila!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

4. He ran a "great" campaign and lost by 11% for a open senate seat.

True is was in a blue state but he had been campaigning for 4 years,was heavily funded and tried to play the "race" card. He lost big among woman and minorities, who saw him for the party hack, neo-con he tried to deny being. He should get a job selling used cars, he might be more successful.

[gratuitous]

3. So does this mean the GOP is in disarray?

Are they scarred by this? Is it time for the citizenry to turn out with pitchforks and torches and run them out of town? Golly, I hope the New York Times rushes into print how I should think about this! I'd hate to think the Republicans are collapsing into intraparty warfare.

[Roy]

5. Mr. Steele shut your uppity mouth, sez the repubs.....

And get back in the suitcase until we need a black face to cover for us!

We'll call you when one of our made men makes another racist statement. And you can convince all the good black folks, he is not a racist. But.... until then........

[yellowcanine]

6. Someone tried to create a drumbeat for Steele. The WH cut it off before it could gain any

momentum. End of story. Except that both the WH and Steele end up looking like chumps. Steele looks as if he was dissed by the WH and the WH was forced into picking the first minority they could find to stop the Steele mo. All in all a very satisfactory solution for Dems.